AAEA is an environmental organization founded in 1985 that is dedicated to protecting the environment, enhancing human, animal and plant ecologies, promoting the efficient use of natural resources, increasing African American participation in the environmental movement and promoting ownership of energy infrastructure and resources. We resolve environmental problems through the application of practical environmental solutions.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Ozone Friendly Inhalers Are Not Friendly To Asthmatics

We do not like the ozone friendly inhalers because they just do not spray fast or forcefully enough and that is unacceptable for an acute asthma attack. AAEA President Norris McDonald tried it and did not like it. The Food & Drug Administration has set the end of 2008 as the deadline for phasing out inhalers that use the ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellant gas. The non-CFC inhaler will also be more expensive and could pose a burden on low-income people. If only we could figure out how to transfer the ozone in smog from ground level to the stratosphere. Inhalers account for less than one percent of CFC use.

CFC use is being ended in accordance with the Montreal Protocol, a global treaty intended to save the upper atmosphere's ozone layer, which protects humans and the Earth from cancer-causing ultraviolet rays from the Sun. The main suppliers of asthma inhalers are: GlaxoSmith-Kline (Ventolin brand), Schering-Plough (Proventil & Warrick generic brand - - pictured above). 3M will manufacturer the new ozone friendly inhalers for Schering-Plough. Armstrong Pharmaceuticals and Ivax (recently acquired by Teva Pharmaceutical Indistries) also produce inhalers.